Jason Mraz
My strength was in singing and songwriting, which was a new discovery for me when I was 18. And I decided if I pursued songwriting, which is what was closest to my heart, then there would be no competition. I would just live my life being myself and living my dream.
There's still a lot of great songwriters out there who hand in songs. And there's a lot of brilliant singers and performers out there who sing other people's words. I enjoy doing both.
Growing up as a singer, and a cast member, and now as an adult, a songwriter, I get the luxury of choosing the kinds of songs that I want to sing, because I'll write, you know, hundreds of songs. Even though only 12 appear on the album. That's 12 that I've chosen to sing of my catalog.
When I finished performing 'I Won't Give Up' for the first time, I opened my eyes, and I think there was maybe six people in there when I started, and when I finished there was about 30 people, all standing around with their jaws dropped in complete silence. I said, 'Okay, I think this song has some power to it.' So coffee shops work for me.
For me to create an album of 12 songs, I've got to write about 80 songs. Half of those are totally weird and rubbish. But I get to some really good stuff after a while.
'I'm Yours' was written effortlessly in about 20 minutes' time, and I honestly thought it was more of like a kids' song, and I didn't do anything with it for years.
When hands are joined, no one can point fingers.Collection: Hands
The measure of your character is not what you do when people are looking. It’s what you do when you think no one is looking.Collection: Character
The power of yes: that's what allows creativity to breathe and to come in. That's what allows your ideas to become living, breathing, moving dreams in action.Collection: Dream
Another year is fast approaching. Go be that starving artist you’re afraid to be. Open up that journal and get poetic finally. Volunteer. Suck it up and travel. You were not born here to work and pay taxes. You were put here to be part of a vast organism to explore and create. Stop putting it off. The world has much more to offer than what’s on 15 televisions at TGI Fridays. Take pictures. Scare people. Shake up the scene. Be the change you want to see in the world.Collection: Inspirational
You can turn off the sun, but I'm still gonna shineCollection: Positive Thinking
It takes no time to fall in love, but it takes you years to know what love is.Collection: Falling In Love
Here’s to freedom, cheers to art. Here’s to having an excellent adventure and may the stopping never start.Collection: Art
Creativity is a religion. When you get into it, you will find your life becomes more spiritual.Collection: Spiritual
For every action there’s a reaction. And also, for every action there’s an equal and opposite criticism.Collection: Opposites
Don't let your mind stop you from having a good time.Collection: Humor
When you choose to be a loving person, it's magical how love comes back to you and brightens someone's day, changing your mood and that of the world.Collection: World
There's no shame in being crazy.Collection: Crazy
Life can't work for you if you don't show up as you.Collection: Shows
I won't give up. Even if the skies get rough.Collection: Giving Up
I hope everyone wakes up and appreciates life.Collection: Appreciate
Sometimes people forget their own greatness.Collection: Greatness
I love writing songs with people, which is about really taking risks, throwing yourself over the falls and really seeing what you're made of and seeing how it sticks. Seeing how others react to it, and seeing also how it can become a melody and how it can really take off from your experience. It's a way of seeing life unfold on the page before me.Collection: Song
In case you never noticed, the path you never chose has chosen you.Collection: Path
You win some, you learn some.Collection: Winning
Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 'I am strong', 'I am brave', 'I can do this' and 'I'm awesome'. Whatever you put after 'I am', you will become. 'I am' are the two most powerful words, so make sure what you say after 'I am' is what you want to experience. It's like a magic trick.Collection: Strong
Open up your heart and the sky is yours.Collection: Heart
It’s strange how dreams get under your skin and give your heart a test for what’s real and what’s imaginary.Collection: Dream
I like to sit in front of the computer, going through files of music, and recording the final vocals, guitars and what- nots. But the windows are always open and you can hear the crickets, birds, chickens, and even the sound of rain hitting the studio. The farm is a great place to hang out in, learn from and create music.Collection: Rain
Being out in nature inspires me as a writer.Collection: Inspire
Yoga makes my day better as I am less likely to fall victim to my otherwise foolish & forgetful mind.Collection: Yoga
I'm not always a positive person. I wake up grumpy, I read the newspaper and I get furious that the world is still at war.Collection: War
When you're writing a song and there are five people invested in it, it's easy for one person to say, 'Oh, this song is about this and that', and everyone has to hear the idea and see if they can do better.Collection: Song
Being a human means waking up in this world, where we all have to work and slog to put food on the table.Collection: Mean
It makes me feel great, knowing my songs are being heard and of service to people.Collection: Song
Through my years as a writer, I've learnt how to simplify the message and pen songs that have a more specific quality - it's not just about my ego and trying to meet girls.Collection: Girl
When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.Collection: Vocabulary
My memory is not so good so my most memorable show is the last one I played. Songs are written with intention but they only emerge in the moment.Collection: Song
I still go through stages of wanting to try other trades. When I was young I thought I'd be a magician. And then a cartoonist. Or a professional roller-skater. But there wasn't much support for those on career day.Collection: Careers
I would enjoy doing what cats do: singing, sleeping, and licking my nuts.Collection: Sleep
Music is my way to shine back and express positive vibrations for a common healing. It's similar to farming, or surfing, or yoga. Before world peace, we have to have inner peace and music helps us get there.Collection: Yoga
I aim to write songs in a way that you don't have to have gone to Ghana to relate to it, you really just have to have a heart.Collection: Song
The soil is actually the greatest technology we have for adapting to climate change. And I feel it's our generation's duty to build it back up.Collection: Technology
Spirituality is nothing more than the art of paying attention. When I give my whole heart and mind to a task such as singing - life's worry, suffering, or conflicts don't exist in that moment. Additionally, singing is about breath work, which is the most essential practice to living a conscious & healthy life.Collection: Art
Thanks to music I have found a deeper connection to an otherwise elusive God. Thru music I get to commune directly, and daily. On a side note to readers, any service or craft you give your heart to will give you the same effect. Don't be afraid to work less and play more! We are human. We didn't come here to hold down a dayjob. We came here to live and learn!Collection: Heart
If i were to lose my memories, I would rely on music. There is so much of my story embedded in each.Collection: Memories
I feel like I write the same album every time but each time I try to convey the message more simply.Collection: Writing
My days could be described as an ever changing palette of blues, greens, browns, and golds. Mostly because of surfing and garden-gazing. On tour, the colors are desaturated by florescent lights and dull grey carpets.Collection: Garden
I'm a lover, not a fighter. No battles for me.Collection: Battle